SUSTAINABLE, EARTH-FRIENDLY

GARDEN TIPS

 

1. Choose NATIVE plants for their benefits and biodiversity, not just for beauty. 

     *Offer a varied menu for wildlife: pollen, nectar, berries, nuts 

     *Provide shelter

     *Erosion control

2. Add hardy, tolerant, resilient and less-fussy garden options

3. Support local growers, farmers, nurseries.  

4. Be less tidy! 

     *Nature needs some habitat messiness for its critters to thrive,such as: mud, leaf litter,       bare soil, dead tree snags, pithy stems, and even"weeds" -- all help to feed or shelter       wildlife and to replenish soil biomass.

     *Mow your lawn Less - Help the Bees! Read this article 

5. Shrink your thirsty, hungry, high-maintenance lawn.

     *Biologically, it's a sterile monoculture, a green desert.  Replace even a corner of it             with a naturalizing native plant or rain garden, a meadow, or veggie patch.

6.   Garden greenly. 

     *Healthy soil promotes healthy plants.  Shun toxic, harmful fertilizers, herbicides, and          pesticides. 
7. Make and use your own compost.

8. Trade in polluting landscaping tools for rechargeable,battery-operated, QUIET tools. 

9. Use rain barrels to collect roof runoff.

10. Learn! 

     *Use science-based .org and .edu websites when noodling online and get the facts

11. Act!  Enlist others.  Involve children. Volunteer.  VOTE!

12. Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, refuse (straws and plastic packaging). 

  

‍CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR RELATED ARTICLES ON OUR BLOG PAGE!

 

Compost 8/17/19

Tending the Garden 7/19/18

Save Our Trees

 

COMPOSTING:

Wanting to learn more about Composting!!?

The Basics, Why and How, What goes in and what does not - Learn it all in this informative and Catchy Song written and performed by the Compost Queen - Ann McGovern. Click Here for the Link.

​

 

OPT FOR NATURAL DETERRENTS!  

Try These Recipes:

‍NATURAL PLANT SPRAYS (courtesy of Milton Garden Club)

Directions: best to spray plants in the early morning before the sun gets too hot. This will lower the risk of burning your plants' leaves.  It's a good idea to test first.  While these recipes are natural and less harmful than commercial sprays, they will still kill good bugs along with the bad.  Use sparingly and treat only infected plants.

‍INSECTICIDAL SOAP

Use for common pest infestations such as aphids, white flies, thrips, and mealy bugs. A few drops of citrus essential oils are especially effective against ants and scale and help the spray adhere to plant surfaces (as does the liquid soap). Combine the following in a spray bottle and shake; spray the plant thoroughly including the underside of leaves:

• 1 1/2 tsp liquid soap (biodegradable ie. Murphy's Oil, Castile, Ivory, CampSuds, etc)

• 1 quart water

• a couple of drops of orange or lemon essential oil

​

ALL-PURPOSE GARLIC CHILI PEPPER SPRAY

This repels Japanese Beetles, borers, leaf hoppers, and slugs. 

Garlic also repels larger pest like slugs and deer; reapply after rain.

• Natural Insecticidal Soap (recipe above)

• 1 Tbsp.chili powder (or fresh, or dried, hot peppers)

• 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

Allow garlic and chili powder to steep overnight.  STRAIN and add to Natural Insecticidal Soap.  Should keep for 1-2 weeks.

‍BAKING SODA SPRAY

For treating plants with fungal diseases (like roses with Black Spot):

• 1 Tbsp.baking soda

• 1/2 Tbsp. oil

• 2 quarts warm water

Add baking soda and oil to one cup of warm water until it dissolves.  Mix in with remaining water.  Remove the most severely affected leaves first and discard in a trash bag (not compost bin).  Spray plant with the solution and repeat every few days.  This mixture is best made and used immediately.

​

Feel Free to share your questions or comments on our Contact Us page or Check out our Facebook Page!

​

​

‍